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June 30, 2010

Since Strawberries and Raspberries are both in season a friend and myself decided to take our boys out to do some pick'in! Barrie Hill Farms has been around for generations, I remember my mother taking my brother and myself as wee ones and we loved it! They farm all different types of fruits and vegetables all season long, I love the fact that they are just around the corner and we can actually hand pick the items ourselves.

My son seemed to be the perfect age at 2 and a half to be picking fruit off the vine, he had his own little box and went to town...only sampling a couple giant strawberries along the way. His favourite ones to pick were the berries that were still white, I think because they were a different colour they appeared "special" to him!

We started by taking a tractor ride out to the field, it was so priceless to see him grinning ear to ear as the tractor travelled down the bumpy dirt roads to the field, as soon as the tractor stopped we jumped off and it were almost as if he were looking for hidden Easter eggs the way he scurried into the field to start searching for berries.

It's days like these that will stick in my mind, days I know my son had a great day, doing something simple, something that doesn't cost a whole lot of money, something that we both enjoyed together...as soon as we got home we cleaned off the berries filled a bowl overflowing and sat across from each other on the living room floor, shortly after eating a couple of berries he let out a yawn then snuggled up on the couch and closed his eyes...words can't express the joy that filled my heart seeing his sweet little face fade into dreamland...probably dashing into the fields to searching.

June 28, 2010

I LOVE music! I was raised surrounded by music, my father was and still is a musician and a guitar teacher, my brother has successfully followed in his footsteps.

I started piano lessons at the age of four learning to read theory and being taught through the Royal Conservatory of Music, I had a wonderfully talented music teacher and artist Joyce, who unfortunately passed away of cancer when I was 9, I then switched teachers and continued studying until the age of 16...until boys entered my life, lol! Anyhow music is very much my life, I find it truly amazing how something even without words can move you to the point of tears.

From the obvious, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez...all those popular bands from back and the day...to the less obvious, Nick Drake, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen, Glenn Gould, Philip Glass, Danny Elfman and of course Classical music from decades past.

I found a link that you music lovers may find interesting from Rolling Stone Magazine http://www,rollingstone.com/music/lists/6862/35223/48213 it lists the Top 500 Albums of all Time, there's some really amazing music listed there some old that you have heard hundreds of times and some you will find that your ears have never heard, I think it's always special to find some fresh finds, take a peek...you never know what surprises you may find!

This weekend I decided to try a new project, I have always wanted to try and make a blanket with silk ribbons attached in the past but have never taken the time to sit down and try and figure out how to make them. So finally I did and this is what I came up with! This is fast and easy. The materials you will need are:

Cotton Fabric

Variety of Ribbon

Scissors

Ruler

Fade out marker

Iron

and of course a sewing machine

Now fold your fabric inside out and mark out two pieces the same size with your fade out marker, depending on how big you want the blankie, the smallest I would go is 13"x13" you can do 16"x16" or 20"x20" if you would like larger.

Now take your ribbon and cut about 20 strips in a variety of lengths ranging from 4" to 7" long. I did five ribbons on each side.

Fold the ribbons to make a loop and pin them inside the two squares (right sides together) of fabric so the raw edges are aligned. (Loops are now inside the 2 squares)

Sew around the square to secure the ribbons in place remembering to leave a 3" opening to turn your project the right side out. Don't forget to back stitch at the beginning and end.

Turn your project so the right side are facing out and iron the square. Clip your corners to a 45 degree angle. I do not clip the seam allowance because I want to make sure I am re-securing the ribbons when I do the top stitch.

Now for the top stitch sew around the entire project 1/4". Back stitch at the start and finish. Iron flat one more time if needed and slip stitch the opening closed. Voila! You did it, now you have a quick and affordable toy that will provide hours of fun to a precious little one.

June 24, 2010

Well, I am happy to say that I have finally finished the "Shark Hat". I found this pattern on a blog called "Knitting Ninja" http://www.knittingninja.com/patterns/shark-hat/ I found this pattern somewhat confusing to follow and had to make quite a few adjustments along the way including knitting my own teeth and fins from scratch to compliment the hat properly. I recommend this pattern only if you are an experienced knitter and are able to improvise with your own creativity. Let me know how you think it turned out!

June 22, 2010

Here is my creation from last evening. It is a messenger bag made from beautiful batik fabric. I went fabric shopping last night and spent a couple hours replenishing my stock and a small fortune! This was the most expensive fabric that I purchased and probably the most beautiful. I added a vintage button that I think finished off the bag nicely.

I also came across some really cool fabric that had an Elvis print and of course my favourite (and Ash's) The Beatles, Yellow Submarine!!! We will see what fun stuff I create for my little man out of those! The rest of the fabric was kind of 60's and 70's inspired floral prints along with a heavier solid coloured cotton fabric.

I always find it some what therapeutic shopping and creating items out of fabric and/or wool, last evening was perfect with my son napping peacefully beside me, the sun reflecting on my workspace and an evening breeze flowing in through my bedroom window and Joni Mitchell echoing in the background...I love looking at my finished product and remembering how much joy it brought me in creating it, so satisfying and liberating!

June 21, 2010

Needless to say I still haven't completed my two "works in progress", he, he! My weekend consumed the better of me. My Friday was spent finishing up some last minute items for a show on Saturday and of course Sunday was Father's day. We had a great weekend though and Saturday's show was a success even though it was supposed to thunderstorm! The weather held off and we had a beautiful sunny day.

I have decided to concentrate a bit more on my sewing and wiped up some baby bandana bibs, these are really funky and stylish and are great for your teething toddler, they are something you can make dozens of and just keep switching them off when they get covered in drool. Tonight I'm hoping to go shopping for some new fabric and try my hand at a messenger bag that can double as a trendy diaper bag...this should be interesting!!!

Anyways I hope all of you had a wonderful Father's day and let's see what creative idea's we can come up with this week!

June 16, 2010

I have a couple things in the works right now...one being a drawstring bag the other being a pretty cool shark hat! I am hoping to have at least on of them completed by tomorrow to show you all. The weather has been pretty crappy here the last couple of days so I have had a bit more time to dedicate to my "works in progress". I use to be pretty good about working on one project at a time but lately it seems if I get bored with one I will start another then go back and forth between two or more!

What are your "Works in progress"??? leave a comment below with a link or post a photo on facebook, I would love to see what your all working on!

June 15, 2010

I, like many other of you busy mommies out there sometimes am too rushed to eat a substantial breakfast in the morning. I find these yummy muffins chalk full of energy to help me get my morning started. My son is also a huge fan, these are great because they have apples, cranberries, carrots and nuts to help fill his hungry little belly too! Great for on the go!!!

June 13, 2010

A friend of mine Yvette-Michelle Cottle Darby owner and designer of "Verona Collections" is hosting an event for "Summer Fashion Week" in Toronto, she is featuring her work along with a few others including myself. If you live in the Toronto area and are out and about stop by and have a look! Items will be displayed at The Gladstone Hotel studio #202, 1214 Queen St West during the dates of June 21-27th.

June 11, 2010

...One single photograph from the past week, no words to describe it, just a simple, special moment...a moment to savour and remember. If your inspired to do the same leave a link to your "moment" in the comment section below. (Inspired by Amanada Blake Soules' blog.)

June 10, 2010

I love wristlets, I think they add a ton of character to any outfit, great for when you are adding layers too. You have many options when making them, colour combinations, stitch patterns, different lengths, it's all pretty fool proof when it comes to knitting a pair.

Wrislets, like fingerless gloves come in handy when doing many different activities, like:

photography,

gardening,

biking,

driving,

walking the dog,

knitting,

playing musical instruments,

Basically any activity that requires the use of your hands in cooler weather. I found a design that I wanted to share with you all. I would consider this an easy pattern, especially if you are new to making cables this is a pattern for you! This pattern knits up quickly and you can be wearing a pair by the next day if need be. I loved it, and I hope you do too! Happy knitting :)

June 7, 2010

I found this interesting little write up in a book about the basic rules of hanging laundry on the clothes line and a cute little poem. I loved it so much that I just had to share it with you all. I am sure that some of you will remember these rules and that unfortunately some of you that may not even know what a clothes line is.

THE BASIC RULES

1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes. Walk the length of each line with a damp cloth around the line.

2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order and always hang whites with the whites and hang them first.

3 You never hung a shirt by the shoulders, always by the tail. What would the neighbours think?

4. Wash day on Monday...never hang clothes on the weekend or Sunday for heaven's sake!

5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide you "unmentionables" in the middle.

6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather...clothes would "freeze dry".

7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes. Pins left on the line was "tacky".

8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed item.

9. Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket and ready to be ironed.

10. IRONED??? Well, that's a whole other subject.

THE CLOTHES LINE

A clothes line was a news forecast

To neighbours passing by

There were no secrets you could keep

When the clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link

For neighbours always knew

If company had stopped on by

To spend a night or two.

For the you'd see the "fancy sheets"

And towels upon the line;

You'd see the "company table clothes"

With intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth

To folks who lived inside

As brand new infant clothes were hung

So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could

So readily be known

By watching how the sizes changes

You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck,

As extra sheets were hung;

The nightclothes, and a bathrobe too,

Haphazardly were strung.

It said, "Gone on vacation now"

When lines hung limp and bare

It told, "We're back!" When full lines sagged

With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon

If wash was dingy grey,

As neighbours carefully raised their brows,

And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are the past

For dryers make work less.

Now what goes on inside a home

is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life.

It was a friendly sign

When neighbours knew each other best

By what hung on the line!

~Unknown Author

I hope that all of you enjoyed this as much as I did. Let's all do our part to keep this little poem alive and hang our clothes out to dry, I know I am doing my part, are you doing yours?

June 6, 2010

I had a friend of mine approach me and ask if I would make him a wristband that had all three colours of the Jamaican flag on it. He told me he wanted it to be approx. 3-4 inches long and that his wrist was 7 inches around, I custom made it to fit him but because yarn is stretchy it will fit a variety of sizes including myself and I have small wrists at just over 4 inches in size!

Yarn: I used worsted wight yarn scraps in black, yellow and green.

Needles: 4 size 3mm double pointed needles.

Gauge: Not important.

Cast on 36 sts with black and divide evenly on three needles. Careful not to twist stitches.

June 4, 2010

I took my little man to "Walking With Dinosaurs" the other night...it was amazing!!! I took a few pictures but they really don't do it justice. I was a little worried that he may be scared of the life size creatures that were about to take the stage but he wasn't afraid at all, I tell ya he really surprises me with what he can withstand at such a young age! (2.5 yrs young)

We had so much fun, it's amazing how much I enjoy spending time with my son. Being a parent has opened so many doors I never even knew existed. He has breathed life into areas of my life that were put on a back burner before he existed. I tell you one thing, I never would have followed this path if it wasn't for my son and for that I am truly grateful. Who knows where life will lead us next! This is our journey :)

June 1, 2010

I have been super busy the last few days trying to get some last minutes items together for my first outdoor show of the season. You always try and make sure that you have more than enough items to display...my fingers and wrists are about to fall off, I have even been waking up in the middle of the night with pain in them! yet I can't stop making a few more items here and there to add!

I figure that some of the items that don't sell at this show I will add to my Etsy shop that I really haven't put too much effort into too :( I have neglected to really keep up with it on a regular basis. I guess I should link my shop to my facebook page and this page of course! Have any of you guys had success with Etsy? I think it's possible if you deticate yourself...but I think it's also possible for your shop to get buried, if you don't keep up with it.

Anyhow, I have added a couple of photos of some new items I have created. I plan on adding items like these to my shop next week sometime when I have some more time!!! Well time to get back to some more creations :)

Thanks for visiting Hipknitized! Here you will find free knitting patterns, DIY projects including how to tutorials. I will keep you updated on projects I've been working on as well as a list of shows where you can find me. In the meantime click the shop tab at the top of the page to link to my Etsy shop. To link to my Facebook page click my photo above.Thanks for coming and enjoy. xo